Playing with Fear: How Changing Your Mindset Can Change Your Life

Day - 🦁 Fearless Friday

How big would you dream if you knew you couldn’t fail? - Robert Schuller

Are you afraid of taking risks or making big changes in your life? Do you let your fears hold you back from reaching your goals? If so, you're not alone. We all have fears, and they can keep us from reaching our full potential. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of judgment, fear of mistakes, fear of the unknown, fear of disappointment, fear that I am not enough - the list goes on.

Fear is a natural emotion that arises in the brain when we perceive a threat or danger which triggers the “fight or flight” response, so it can be both helpful and harmful.  While it prepares our bodies to respond quickly to perceived threats so it can protect us from danger, it can also prevent us from living our best lives.

Especially when those perceived threats are not necessarily real or immediate. This can lead to persistent anxiety or phobias that interfere with our ability to function and enjoy life.

But what if I told you that the key to overcoming these fears lies in your mindset? That's right, the way you approach challenges and setbacks can either hold you back or propel you forward. 

What if you could reframe your perspective on fear and approach it in a more positive and constructive way? Rather than viewing fear as bad or something to be overcome that instead you could play with it while honoring the positive intention behind the fear…self-preservation in some cases.

Perhaps even recognizing that you could view FEAR as:

False Evidence Appearing Real

Face Everything And Rise

Future Events Appearing Real

Frightening Emotions Affecting Reality

By recognizing that fear is often based on false assumptions or negative emotions, you can learn to face their fears with courage and resilience, rather than avoidance or panic.

From a neuroscientific perspective, fear is associated with activation of the amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure in the brain that plays a key role in processing emotions and detecting potential threats. When the amygdala detects a threat, it sends signals to other parts of the brain, such as the hypothalamus and the brainstem, which trigger the physiological responses associated with fear.

Fortunately, the brain also has other systems that can modulate and regulate the fear response. For example, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision-making and problem-solving, can help to regulate the fear response by providing context and perspective on perceived threats.

In this newsletter, we will explore the difference between a growth versus fixed mindset and how it can help you play with your fears. And in the coming weeks we will further explore fears – along with doubts, resistance and beliefs to help you discover your potential.

The Work of Carol Dweck

Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, introduced the concept of mindset in her book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success." She argues that there are two types of mindsets: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. In a fixed mindset, people believe that their abilities are fixed and cannot be changed. They avoid challenges and setbacks because they believe that failure is a reflection of their abilities. In a growth mindset, people believe that their abilities can be developed through hard work and perseverance. They embrace challenges and setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.

🌱Fear and a Growth Mindset

Approaching things with a growth mindset can help you discover and play with your fears. Instead of avoiding challenges and setbacks, you can see them as opportunities to learn and grow. As Tony Robbins, a motivational speaker, suggests, "The only thing that's keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself that you can't have it." By adopting a growth mindset, you can change the story you tell yourself and take action towards your goals. 

🙏 The Power of Belief

Belief is a powerful force that can either limit or expand your potential. In a fixed mindset, you believe that your abilities are fixed and cannot be changed. This belief can hold you back from taking action towards your goals. In a growth mindset, you believe that your abilities can be developed through hard work and perseverance. This belief can propel you forward and help you play with or explore your fears.

Remember, fear is a natural part of life and it's okay to feel scared sometimes. By acknowledging your fears, embracing uncertainty, taking action, and changing your mindset, you can learn to use fear as a tool to help you grow and achieve your goals. So don't let fear hold you back any longer – it's time to feel the fear and do it anyway!

🧠 The Growth Mindset in Practice

Here are some practical ways to adopt a growth mindset and play with your fears:

1. Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
2. View setbacks as temporary and solvable.
3. Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations.
4. Surround yourself with people who encourage and support you.
5. Celebrate your progress and small wins.

Fear can be a powerful force that can hold us back from reaching our full potential. However, by adopting a growth mindset and changing the story we tell ourselves, we can play with our fears and achieve our goals. As Brendan Burchard, a motivational speaker and author, says, "The only thing we should fear is not living our fullest potential." So, let's embrace a growth mindset and take action towards our goals.

🤔 Reflection Questions

1. What are some of the fears that have been holding you back from reaching your goals?
2. How have these fears been impacting your life? What have you been missing out on because of them?
3. Take a moment to reflect on your mindset. Do you tend to have a fixed or growth mindset? How has this mindset been shaping your beliefs and actions?
4. Think about a time when you faced a challenge or setback. How did you approach it? Did you avoid it or embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow?
5. Identify one fear that you want to play with (overcome). What is one step you can take today to start working towards playing with (overcoming) this fear?

P.S. I’d invite you to view this short TED talk from Carol Dweck on The power of believing that you can improve and if you want to learn even more check out her talk at Google about how to transform your organization’s mindset. Also, check out her book, Mindset: The Psychology of Success. This is a must read especially for every parent and educator.

Look forward to helping you build the confidence and skills to excel as a leader.

#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #confidence #fear #mindset #professionaldevelopment #executivecoaching #confidencecoach #confidenceinleadership #emotionalintelligence